Willem Rebergen, better known as He… Read Full Bio ↴Also known as 1/2 of Project One
Willem Rebergen, better known as Headhunterz, kicked off his DJ career in 2003. That year, a friend gave him a ticket to Qlimax, and it was love at first sight. Discovering hardstyle music and its dedicated scene changed his life. From that moment on, he committed himself to becoming the best producer in the hardstyle genre. He locked himself up in his tiny bedroom studio, in the attic of his parents’ house in Veenendaal, and quickly learned the ropes of producing. Unaware of the revolution he would start, the foundations of the Headhunterz sound were made.
After 3 years of perfecting his sound, he signed his very first record deal, with ‘Aiming For Ur Brain’ landing on Scantraxx Special – followed by ‘The Sacrifice’ EP. Both releases unlocked a firestorm within the scene, as their melodic approach to hardstyle instantly made them stand out. Many more future classics would follow, with tracks like ‘Dragonborn’, ‘Victim of My Rage’ and ‘Rock Civilization’ earning the hearts of the hardstyle community. In 2007, ‘The Power of the Mind’ became the official anthem of Qlimax 2007 – only 4 years after Heady’s first visit to the very same event. In 2009, ‘Scrap Attack’ was the anthem to DEFQON.1, the biggest hardstyle event in the world. Collaborations with The Prophet, Noisecontrollers and Wildstylez, along with his originals and headliner performances at countless festivals and events around the globe, made Headhunterz grow from a rising talent into an established name.
He already had his own sublabel (Scantraxx Reloaded) at The Prophet's hardstyle label 'Scantraxx'. And now, your label is Art of Creation, with Wildstylez, Sound Rush, and Project One. Popular releases by Headhunterz are 'Rock Civilization', 'Forever Az One' and 'End of my Existence'.
Headhunterz’ new take on Hardstyle music made the genre grow into an international phenomenon. It was no longer just the sound of European raves, but became something worldly. Headhunterz made new audiences fall in love with the unstoppable energy of Hardstyle music. 7 years after visiting his very first hardstyle party he was on top of his career, with each new track captivating both his fanbase and artists outside the scene. ‘Colors’ ft. Tatu, the first hardstyle track ever released on Ultra Records, became a golden record. Major EDM names like Hardwell and Kaskade requested Headhunterz’ remix skills, and a collaboration with Krewella soon followed.
As often happens to creative people, a different challenge started itching Headhunterz’ mind. In 2014, he made a drastic change to branch away from Hardstyle and have a taste of whatever else was out there. He did main stage performances at EDM festivals and collaborated with artists like W&W, Steve Aoki and R3hab. His break from Hardstyle allowed him to think outside the box, and helped grow his musical perspective. It made him explore the boundaries of his own, musical imagination and discover new territories within the electronic dance scene.
Playing the Defqon.1 2016 Legends show, after being away for 2 full years, made Headhunterz realize how much he missed his beloved hardstyle scene. After a special Project One performance at Qlimax later that year, rumors started to spread about Headhunterz’ potential return to Hardstyle. And so he did. At DEFQON.1 2017, in front of 60,000 ecstatic fans, Headhunterz announced his grand return to hardstyle. Following the announcement of the ‘Return of Headhunterz’ show, he sold out the Ziggo Dome within 30 minutes – for the second time in his career. The hardstyle community welcomed him back wholeheartedly, as his world tour took Heady to no less than 125 performances across 34 countries.
His journey inspired him to create ‘The Return of Headhunterz’, an album that tied past, present and future together –clocking up more than 55 million streams, and growing. One of its tracks, ‘Destiny’, made it as the number 1 track in the Hardstyle Top 100 of 2017 and became a golden record in 2019. ‘Our Church’, a collaborative production with Sub Zero Project, was also featured on the album and became an important track to the hardstyle community. It planted the seeds to the Orange Heart movement, with its lyrics defining the meaning behind it: “To every owner of an orange heart, know that nothing shall tear it apart. When the world will try to divide us, then this music will reunite us.”
Connected to the album was Headhunterz’ Up Close and Personal night – combining spectacular visuals, live music and an intimate setting to tell the story behind it all. Selling out Amsterdam’s Paradiso and Tilburg’s 013, both fans and Heady enjoyed a night to remember. ‘The Return of Headhunterz’, as well as the personal shows that followed its release, showed that Headhunterz will always find a warm welcome at his home base, no matter what.
At Qlimax 2019, in front of 30.000 people, Headhunterz was at the brink of breaking down. Suffering a heavy burn-out, he cancelled nearly all of his international shows in December 2019, but did perform the kick-off of the Orange Heart event, at Paradiso. Headhunterz needed time off, by limiting the stress that’s an inevitable part of his professional life. Time to rest, recharge and focus on his health. The Covid-19 pandemic that hit only a few months later gave him the chance to focus on personal growth and development, as he finally had time to master the art of playing piano, work out and reflect upon the rollercoaster ride his career has brought him. He learned to take better care of himself, and found happiness again. Headhunterz: “I have a new definition for quality of life these days. Sober, fit, solo, at peace with myself and everything that’s going on around me, inspired to create music.”
During the corona crisis, Headhunterz has done several live sessions on Twitch and Discord, along with a livestream set for Defqon.1. While perfecting his studio work, he also focused on setting up ‘The Art of Production’. A platform that’ll launch in 2021, on which he will be teaching masterclasses to ambitious producers, providing special courses and live feedback sessions from his studio. The same place where Headhunterz music comes to life and plans to conquer new territory for Hardstyle are forged. It’s here, where the one thing reigns that will always remain Headhunterz’ greatest achievement; the music from within.
Back In The Days
Headhunterz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you remember
Way back in the days
The first time you felt it
Running through your veins
The first hard record
Your very first dance
On a reversed bass
The years went by
And you start to realise
They're just echoes of the past
And the time really flies
And you wish
You could put your life on rewind
But you know
That you have to leave the past behind
It's time to take a trip down memory lane
Close your eyes
And relive the age of the reversed bass
Bass
Reversed bass
Take it back to where we started
It's time to take a trip down memory lane
Close your eyes
And relive the age of the reversed bass
Reversed bass
Bass
Reversed bass
It's time to open up a new chapter
And leave the past behind
Reflections of your memory
Reversed bass
Bass
Reversed bass
Take it back to where we started
The lyrics to Headhunterz's song Back In the Days take a nostalgic trip down memory lane for anyone who has experienced the magic of hearing their first hard record and dancing to the sound of reversed bass. From the very first time the listener felt the bass running through their veins, to the realization that time really flies and the wish to put their life on rewind, the song hits on the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia that many people experience. The chorus urges the listener to close their eyes and relive the age of reversed bass, a time when life was simpler, and the echo of the past still resonates. The song acknowledges that while it's important to leave the past behind and start a new chapter, the memories of the past, the reversed bass specifically, will always be a part of who we are.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released in 2010 on the album Studio Sessions, and it became an instant hit in the hardstyle genre. The song features Headhunterz's signature sound, a combination of reverse bass, hardstyle kicks, and uplifting melodies. Another interesting fact is that Back In the Days was played at Defqon.1 2010 during Headhunterz's mainstage set, cementing its status as a classic hardstyle anthem. The song's popularity also spawned numerous remixes, and it's still a crowd favorite at hardstyle events around the world.
Another interesting fact about the song is that it samples several iconic hardstyle tracks from the early 2000s, including Showtek's "FTS," and The Beholder & Balistic's "Decibel Anthem." The use of these samples adds to the nostalgic feel of the song and pays homage to the pioneers of the hardstyle genre. Additionally, the music video for the song features footage of Headhunterz and other top hardstyle DJs performing at festivals and events around the world, further emphasizing the community aspect of the hardstyle scene.
In terms of chords, the song features a classic hardstyle progression of A minor, C Major, G Major, and F Major. The chord progression is played on a synth and serves as the backbone of the track, providing a sense of urgency and energy to the reversed bass and hardstyle kicks. The song also features a breakdown with a haunting vocal melody, which adds to the emotional impact of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Bass
The song is primarily focused on bass-heavy music, specifically reversed bass.
Do you remember
Asking the listener if they remember a certain time period in their life.
Way back in the days
Refers to a time in the past, generally nostalgic in nature.
The first time you felt it
Asking the listener to remember the first time they connected with music on a deep emotional level.
Running through your veins
Describing an intense emotional connection to the music, as if it is a part of the listener's physical being.
The first hard record
Refers to the first time the listener heard a specific type of music, hardstyle or similar genres.
You heard being played
Asking the listener to remember when they first heard a certain type of music being played, likely in a live setting.
Your very first dance
Asking the listener to remember their first dance or other social experience while experiencing this type of music.
On a reversed bass
Specifically refers to the musical style, reversed bass, that is the focus of the song.
The years went by
Acknowledges the passage of time since the listener's first connection to this type of music.
And you start to realise
Asking the listener to reflect on their emotions and thoughts about this type of music as time has passed.
They're just echoes of the past
Suggests that the feelings and memories associated with this music are fading as time goes on, and are becoming less relevant in the present moment.
And the time really flies
Acknowledges the disconnect between the nostalgia for the past and the need to keep moving forward.
And you wish
Asking the listener to confront their desire to relive their past experiences with this type of music.
You could put your life on rewind
Refers to a desire to go back in time and experience these moments again, as if they could permanently return to that point in their life.
But you know
Acknowledges the reality of time and change; the listener knows that they cannot go back in time.
That you have to leave the past behind
Encourages the listener to focus on the future and not hold on to the past too tightly.
It's time to take a trip down memory lane
Inviting the listener to remember their past experiences with this type of music.
Close your eyes
Encourages the listener to immerse themselves in their memories of the past.
And relive the age of the reversed bass
Encourages the listener to remember the specific type of music that the song is focused on, in this case reversed bass.
Take it back to where we started
Encouraging the listener to focus on the origins of their love of this music genre.
It's time to open up a new chapter
Encouraging the listener to look to the future instead of dwelling too much on the past.
And leave the past behind
Reiterating the need to let go of past experiences with music and focus on the future.
Reflections of your memory
Describing the listener's internal reflections on their memories of this specific type of music.
Reversed bass
Refers to the musical style that is the focus of the song.
Take it back to where we started
Encouraging the listener to focus on the origins of their love of this music genre.
Bass
The song's final word, restating the focus on bass-heavy music.
Reversed bass
Restating the specific musical style that is the focus of the song.
Bass
The song's final word, restating the focus on bass-heavy music.
Reversed bass
Restating the specific musical style that is the focus of the song.
It's time to open up a new chapter
Encouraging the listener to focus on new experiences and opportunities moving forward.
And leave the past behind
Reiterating the need to let go of past experiences, including those with music, to fully embrace the present and future.
Take it back to where we started
Encouraging the listener to focus on the origins of their love of this specific type of music.
Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rldm1012
Back in the days, when I first met Headhunterz, it was the best day of my life... Awesome music, awesome bass, awesome DJ... the music that comes from the heart, is always the best... Thanks for all the support than fans have been giving to this great man... Greetings from PORTUGAL!
NikoStalk
But "nowadays HHZ" have nothing in common with the old Mr.HeadyHead, he must leave his nickname off, and pick new. Thus he will never be doomed by haters, who could get into his weblog and left a gift.
TycoDJ
0:48 , 2:32 and 3:45 are proof of how much talent HHZ used to be in making the perfect atmosphere and holy damn I wish those moments lasted longer
Joshua Sawtelle
I love this song, every time I listen to it i get goose bumps and my hairs stand up. That is what good music does. Song brings back memories.
Jonas
I clearly remember my first hardstyle song. It was Power Of The Mind, and was back in 2008, somewhere in july, at a camp. It instantly struck me like no music had ever done before. Even though it has changed alot in 4 years, I have enjoyed this change, and my love for the genre is still as big as the first time I heard it :) <3
NikoStalk
Probably you could head Heady in Hardstyle\Jumpstyle\Electrodance dancing video?
AQUAIIX
More Hardstyle needs to be like this, bring it back please.
xWikarN
2nd best track of the album after Dragonborn. It has such a great story to it, and the reverse bass is just sick. Love this one!
eamh2002
If you want Headhunterz to make more this kind of music, this is the place to ask, I know he's checking some comments :D I love the kick! "Soft" but powerful.
Calvin Dimmendaal
every time i listen to this and when the bass comes in, i'm smiling like an idiot :)